Can you give the address of that web site. The description of the images was 'engraving like'. I cannot imagine that the high acutance was the flavour of the 1960's. I do not remember this developer in any way. And a recent research in the literature has no result. Therefore, I wonder what the popularity might have been. Anyway, the Kodak people in the US took the developer out of the market.
Jed
Jed, find a copy of the British Journal of Photography Annual 1968 (edited by Geoffrey Crawley). Pages 187 through 192 contain a discussion of Acutance Development and Acutance Formulae. Acutance, Sharpness,Resolving Power, Definition, etc. are explained and discussed on pages 187-189.
On page 186 is the following statement about Microdol-X "It can be used diluted at 1+3, for increased image sharpness as a substitute for the discontinued High Def. developer."
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Tom Hoskinson
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Jed, find a copy of the British Journal of Photography Annual 1968 (edited by Geoffrey Crawley). Pages 187 through 192 contain a discussion of Acutance Development and Acutance Formulae. Acutance, Sharpness,Resolving Power, Definition, etc. are explained and discussed on pages 187-189.
On page 186 is the following statement about Microdol-X "It can be used diluted at 1+3, for increased image sharpness as a substitute for the discontinued High Def. developer."
I am aware of this paper. It is of course difficult what Crawley had in mind when he wrote that. For him it was a guess anyway. Definition, as defined around 1960 has little to do with how 'high definition' is defined today. High definition today, like high fidelity is a 'true' image representation, or a MTF close to 100% over the relevant frequency range. With the high acutance developers this was not the case at all. My concern is that 'high definition' of the 1960's might be misunderstood, because the definitions (language) have changed.
I can understand that the Microdol-X replaced the Kodak HDD in 1962. There is a world of difference between the two developers. And, I have the impression that James (Kodak) was not impressed by the high acutance effect caused by the Kodak HDD. The fine grain developers enjoyed quite a popularity in Europe at that time, not something like the Kodak HDD.
Jed
It is my impression that the developer was removed from the market because it did not keep very well. The small quantity of sulfite and the high pH shorten its life. This developer works on a different principle from FX-1 or the Beutler formula. In HDD the sulfite is designed to exhaust before the Metol whereas in the other developers it is the Metol which exhausts first. The formula given is for the working solution.
I have been unsuccessful in trying to relocate the website which had the sample HDD prints.
I repeat, they took a different approach. Although what you say is true (AFAIK), the latest before all B&W work stopped was totally different. The last so called HDD had an entirely radical formulation.
It kept well and seasoned well. It had high capacity. I may mix some up and give it a go here, I have everything I need but one item.
PE
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When we were still using glass plates and Tech Pan sheet film in Transmission Electron Microscopy, we developed with Kodak D-19 or with Kodak HRP (High Resolution Plate) Developer. Kodak apparently discontinued the HRP Developer around 2004.
According to the Kodak HRP Developer MSDS,it contained Potassium Sulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Hydroquinone, Bis (4-hydroxy-N-methylanilinium) sulphate (AKA Metol) and Diethylene Glycol.
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Tom Hoskinson
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I have been unsuccessful in trying to relocate the website which had the sample HDD prints.[/quote]
Too bad, you cannot relocate the website. They gave an engraving like appearance. I was unable to locate any Kodak HDD, not in Europe or elsewhere. That is all I know. Based on this fact, I think it was a high acutance developer. The rest are rumors. Like the popularity in Europe. And it was taken out of the market because the Kodak emulsions were modified.
When we were still using glass plates and Tech Pan sheet film in Transmission Electron Microscopy, we developed with Kodak D-19 or with Kodak HRP (High Resolution Plate) Developer. Kodak apparently discontinued the HRP Developer around 2004.
According to the Kodak HRP Developer MSDS,it contained Potassium Sulfite, Sodium Sulfite, Hydroquinone, Bis (4-hydroxy-N-methylanilinium) sulphate (AKA Metol) and Diethylene Glycol.
What is the relation with the Kodak HDD developer? I do not see any relation.
Just an example of two Special Purpose High Resolution Kodak Emulsions developed in two High Contrast, High Resolution Kodak Developers.
The Kodak HDD is described as a high acutance developer, therefore high contrast transfer, but no high resolution. ( MTF not close to 100%).
The D 19 is a high contrast, high resolution ( and therefore an MTF close to 100%), low fog developer. Known chemical composition. In scientific applications the D 19b is often used.
The recipe of the Kodak HRP developer is unknown to me and not mentioned in the reviews I have. May be, is it the same as the Kodak 19b.
Linear Mode
